1 - Citizens of Austria, Germany, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Switzerland and the United Kingdom may apply for an extension of stay with the Ministry of Justice for up to 6 months.2 - For the United Kingdom, only British citizens and British Nationals (Overseas) are eligible for visa-free entry.3 - Until 31 December 2018 for Romanian citizens.[4]4 - With biometric passports or machine readable passports only.5 - With biometric passports in compliance with ICAO standards only.6 - For holders of Taiwan passports which includes a personal identification number.7 - For holders of HKSAR passport.8 - For holders of MSAR passport.

Holders of passports pre-registered at the Japan Embassy/Consulate issued by these 2 countries can visit without a visa:[5][6]

Non-ordinary passports

The governments of the following 45 countries have concluded bilateral visa waiver agreements with Japan. Holders of diplomatic and/or service category passports do not require a visa to visit Japan:[81]

Holders of diplomatic and official passport of the countries (to whom visa exemption applies when using an ordinary passport) are also, on reciprocal basis, exempted from visa as temporary visitor. In this case, they will be granted the status of residence as "Temporary Visitor" at the landing inspection in Japan (not the status of residence as "Diplomat" or "Official".), and in principal, they are obliged to provide their personal identification information such as fingerprints and facial photo.[82]

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan holders of diplomatic and service passports of Taiwan and United States need a visa.[83]

APEC Business Travel Card

Holders of passports issued by the following countries who possess an APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) containing the "JPN" code on the reverse that it is valid for travel to Japan can enter visa-free for business trips for up to 90 days.[1]

Special visa policy for some countries

Japan had a special visa policy for nationals of some former Soviet countries who could not provide their financial guarantees and get a visa on their own but instead they had to apply through an approved travel agency or be invited by a resident or a citizen of Japan.[85] These requirements were lifted for citizens of Russia on 1 January 2017,[86] Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan on 5 June 2017,[87][88] Armenia on 1 September 2017,[89] Azerbaijan on 1 December 2017[90] and Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine on 1 January 2018.[91][92]

In addition, Japanese MOFA has special visa policies for nationals of China and the Philippines. Nationals of these countries also must apply through an accredited travel agent or be invited by a Japanese citizen or a resident of Japan.[93][94]

As of 2014 nationals of the Philippines and Vietnam travelling in a group through a registered travel agency can obtain entry visas for tourist visits up to 15 days in a simplified process that requires fewer documents than before.[95] Moreover, nationals of India, the Philippines and Vietnam can obtain multiple-entry visas providing that they have visited Japan and other G7 countries or they have "sufficient financial capability".[96][97]

Chinese tourists travelling on approved cruise ships do not require a visa as of April 2015. They must embark and disembark the same specified ships.[98]

Japan was reportedly set to ease visa requirements for visitors from key markets, such as India, China and Vietnam, starting in the summer of 2016.[99] A new wave of visa liberalization policies for Chinese nationals started from 17 October 2016,[100] for Indian nationals started from 1 January 2018.[101]

Statistics

In 2015 4,768,286 Japanese visas were issued.[102] It is an increase of 66% from 2014 when 2,871,639 visas were issued and the highest number ever recorded.[103]

In 2015 most visas were issued for group sightseeing (1,957,498) and individual sightseeing (1,126,209). There were 62,052 multiple-entry visas for Okinawa and 10,500 multiple-entry visas for three prefectures in Tōhoku.

Most visitors arriving to Japan were from the following countries of nationality: